Renanthera caloptera is a species in the family Orchidaceae. It was formerly the only species in the monotypic genus Ascoglossum, abbreviated Ascgm in the horticultural trade. It is endemic to Dinagat Island in the southern Philippines and is critically endangered by collection as an ornamental plant and habitat loss. Its flowers are a vivid purple.
Taxonomy
Renanthera caloptera was described in 1882 by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach as Saccolabium calopterum. Its name was subsequently changed to Ascoglossum caloptera by Rudolf Schlecter. Finally, based on research published by Alexander Kocyan & Andre Schuiteman, its name was changed to Renanthera caloptera.
Horticulture
The Royal Horticultural Society uses Renanthera caloptera for hybrid registration purposes.
Before that 2014 taxonomic revision, Ascoglossum formed several different intergeneric hybrids (nothogenera):
Orchid hybrids are registered with The International Register at the Royal Horticultural Society. One primary hybrid was originated and registered by A.Kolopaking in 1989 as Renanthoglossum Nina Rach (). As of 2014, this is classified as Renanthera Nina Rach.